The above table serves as a snapshot of the typical factors that impact ridership, and illustrates the differences which exist between the current month and the same month in the previous year. If a change occurred, it is categorized to represent a (typically) positive, negative or neutral impact on ridership. More details on the observed impacts are noted in the description of ridership results below. ​

​Local Network Overview

Local Bus

Monthly Total

There were 5,124K boardings in March 2018 compared to 5,091K in March 2017, an increase of 33K boardings (or 1 percent increase) on local bus service.

Average Daily Ridership: Weekday / Saturday / Sunday

Average daily ridership increased on Weekday, Saturday and Sunday in March 2018 compared to March 2017. Average Weekday ridership increased by approximately 1K boardings (or 1 percent increase), average Saturday ridership increased by approximately 3K (or 3 percent increase), and average Sunday ridership increased by approximately 5K boardings (or 5 percent increase) in March 2018 compared to March 2017.

​Light Rail

Monthly Total

There were 1,945K boardings on all three light rail lines in March 2018 compared to 2,102K boardings in March 2017, a decrease of 157K boardings (or 8 percent). Red line ridership decreased by 10 percent, Green line ridership increased by 8 percent, and Purple line ridership increased by 8 percent in March 2018 compared to March 2017. The primary reason for the ridership loss in March 2018 compared to the previous year was the shifting of dates for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) from exclusively March (March 2017) to a split between February and March (February and March 2018). In 2018, HLSR started in February resulting in five fewer days of HLSR ridership in March 2018 compared to March 2017.

Average Daily Ridership: Weekday / Saturday / Sunday

Average Weekday ridership on the Red, Green, and Purple lines decreased by 2K boardings (or 3 percent), increased by less than 1K boardings (or 5 percent) and increased by less than 1K boardings (or 17 percent) respectively in March 2018 compared to March 2017. Average Saturday ridership on the Green and Purple lines increased by less than 1K boardings (or 7 percent) and increased by less 1K boardings (or 10 percent) respectively in March 2018 compared to March 2017. Due to HLSR scheduling and weather, there were no average Saturdays or Sundays on the Red line in March 2017. Average Sunday ridership on the Green, and Purple lines increased by less than 1K boardings (or 3 percent), and increased by less than 1K boardings (or 10 percent) in March 2018 compared to March 2017 respectively.

Total Local Network

Monthly Total

There were 7,068K boardings in March 2018 compared to 7,193K in March 2017, a decrease of 125K boardings (or 2 percent decrease).

Average Daily Ridership: Weekday / Saturday / Sunday

Average daily ridership increased on Weekday by 1K boardings (or less than 1 percent increase). Please see note regarding absence of average Saturday and Sunday ridership on Red Line in March 2017 due to HLSR and weather.

​Commuter Network Overview

Park & Ride

Monthly Total

There were 658K Park & Ride boardings in March 2018 compared to 723K boardings in March 2017, a decrease of approximately 65K boardings (or 9 percent decrease).

Average Daily Ridership: Weekday

Average Weekday ridership in March 2018 was 31K boardings compared to 31K boardings March 2017, a decrease of less than 1K boardings (2 percent decrease).

Entire Network Summary

Monthly Total

There were 7,727K boardings on the entire fixed-route network in March 2018 compared to 7,916K boardings in March 2017, a decrease of 189K boardings (or 2 percent decrease).

Average Daily Ridership: Weekday / Saturday / Sunday

Average daily ridership for the fixed-route network increased on Weekday, Saturday and Sunday in March 2018 compared to March 2017. Average weekday ridership increased by approximately 1K boardings (or less than 1 percent increase) in March 2018 compared to March 2017. Please see note regarding absence of average Saturday and Sunday ridership on Red Line in March 2017 due to HLSR and weather.